Beth Israel (Jackson, Mississippi) Arson Incident – Personal Note: A Reminder Why Preparedness Matters

Last week, an arson attack targeted Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, which also houses the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Authorities quickly labeled the fire a targeted antisemitic act. As one local official stated, “An attack on a house of worship is an attack on the values of our entire community.” No one was injured, but the damage to sacred space and the sense of safety was profound.

In the early hours of the morning, while the city slept, the fire spread quickly. There was no warning. No convenient timing. And yet, amid shock and loss, something telling emerged. Security systems provided critical information. Leaders knew who to call. Communication went out calmly and clearly. Within days, services resumed in temporary spaces offered by neighboring churches. The building was damaged, but the community held.

That is what preparedness looks like.

Emergencies don’t wait. They demand immediate, confident action. The difference between chaos and control is preparation. When organizations invest in emergency management, they are better positioned to protect people and property, maintain leadership under pressure, communicate with credibility, and recover faster.

Preparedness starts with understanding risk: knowing what threats are most likely and most harmful to your environment. It depends on clear communication, so messages don’t compete with rumors. It requires defined roles, so decisions aren’t delayed by confusion. And it is sustained through training and drills, so when something happens, people don’t freeze, they move.

At JEPP, we believe this work is empowering. Preparedness is not about fear, it’s about control, clarity, and resilience. Incidents like this remind us that what we do before a crisis determines how we emerge after it.

Now is the time to review plans, strengthen training, and ensure our communities are ready. Not someday, but TODAY.